German police raid homes of suspected Chinese spies

German police have raided the homes of four Chinese nationals alleged to have spied on Muslim Uighurs living in Munich. Authorities accuse the Chinese consulate of controlling the operation.

The four men are suspected of spying on the Muslim Uighur community in the southern German city of Munich, one of the largest Uighur communities outside China and the home of the World Uighur Congress.

Authorities said the apartments of the four men were searched but no arrests were made. They did not provide further details.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that the men took direction from the Chinese consulate in Munich and that information was intended for use by authorities in Beijing.

The magazine said the Chinese government had a number of informants in Munich who had not only been observed meeting with the four men under investigation but also with Chinese diplomats. However, the diplomats are apparently not under investigation because they have diplomatic immunity. The four suspects do not.